29 Simple Life Hacks To Keep In Your Back Pocket

Life can be tough, so anytime someone shares a simple trick to make it a little easier, I jump all over it. Plus, a good life hack can make you look like a genius – and there’s nothing wrong with that.

1. Scam free

If you are given a prepaid debit card as a gift, save it after you spend the money. You can use it to sign up for free trials online without worry of being scammed.

Instagram, @money2gomastercardnl

2. Generosity

Let someone know you’re picking up the tab for a meal after they’ve ordered. This allows a considerate friend to order what he or she wants freely and also prevents a colleague or acquaintance from taking advantage of your generosity.

Pixabay

3. Is it annoying?

If you have a guest bedroom in your home, spend a night in it yourself to be sure there are no annoyances and that it is comfortable.

Pixabay

4. I could have used this MANY times

If Word crashes or shuts down and your document didn’t save, search “.asd” in the file Explorer under “This/My PC”. It should be there.

Pixabay

5. Vacuum seal

If you want to “vacuum seal” food, put it in a ziplock bag and submerge it in a bowl of water with the bag open above the water. The water will push the air out of the bag, and you can close it without any left inside.

Instagram, @clairekcreations

6. Save your cell

I’ve spent nearly 20 years repairing liquid/water damaged electronics. More specifically, cell phones. I know putting the phone in a bow of rice is the go-to recommendation for water-damage, but that only works to an extent. There’s a better way.

Instagram, @billy245

Rice will passively absorb moisture. Unfortunately, you don’t want to passively absorb the moisture, you want to actively remove the moisture as quickly as possible. The longer the moisture is sitting on those circuit boards, the higher the risk of corrosion.

The liquid itself almost never is directly responsible for failed consumer electronics, it’s the corrosion that takes place after the fact or the liquid damaging the battery. And corrosion on electrical components can happen within just a few short hours.

While rice does dry a phone out slightly better than just sitting it on the counter, it really doesn’t do much to prevent the corrosion.

What you want to do is set the item in front of a fan with constant airflow. Take the device apart as much as you can without ruining it so that the insides can get as much airflow as possible. Even if it’s not in direct contact with the air, the steady air blowing over the device will create a mini vacuum effect and pull air from inside. It’s just a small amount but it’s significantly better than just allowing the rice to passively absorb the evaporated moisture. True, rice can act as a desiccant, but a fan blowing over whatever is orders of magnitude faster.

What you want to avoid at all costs, however, is heat. Do not put your phone inside an oven or hot blow dryer. Heat can damage electronics just as badly as liquid.

7. Perfect Range

If you are buying headphones or speakers, test them with Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody.’ It has the complete set of highs and lows in instruments and vocals.

Pixabay

8. Quotas

Buying a car? Buy it at the end of the month. Salespeople have quotas to meet each month and will be more likely to cut you a deal.

Wikipedia

9. Nail on the head

If you are examining nursing homes to place a loved one, look at the fingernails of the residents living there at the moment. Long fingernails (especially on men) would likely indicate that the home is either understaffed or does not care enough to do such a small task.

Pixabay

10. Oh Deer!

According to rural veterinarian we talked to over the weekend, she sees one bizarre but surprisingly common avoidable animal emergency in the summertime.

Pixabay

Deers, mainly fawns, who have been hit or run over by various lawn mowers.

Deer often hide or leave their fawns in high grass in early summer. If you are mowing high grass with a riding mower or similar machine, take extra time and check the entire field before you start.

If you do find one, don’t be afraid to move it; mama deer will not abandon her fawn because of your scent!